Merkel training, Taupo Feb 16th Feb (WEDNESDAY)!

**Rainbow Wizard** · 1st February 2005, 20:17

STARTS 8:00am. NB The date is 16th Feb (WEDNESDAY)!
Opportunity to participate in private tuition on the Taupo track. Run by Fred Merkel who has a well-proven history in handling skills training. To paricipate you need a road bike of any size, although the others already signed up ride upwards of 650cc bikes. You also need to contribute up to $250 direct to the tutor(s) which covers the fees, the hire of the track, and for qualified first aid attendance with an ambulance standing by (just in case anyone stuffs up).

The time and date would only change if rain's likely but we cannot reasonably get the track on a weekend due to demand from fixed events.

If you're interested drop me a private message or preferably register your interest here.

Fred demos the racing line in a safe environment & teaches proficient riding, he rides with and advises 1 on 1: bike setup, body position, handling, anti-target fixation, effective and damage-control braking, smart riding etc. You get to test (and are encouraged to expand) your own limits. It's also fully catered with a steak or chicken lunch, teas & coffees. Check in 7:30a.m / Closing 5:00pm so lots of time to learn, have fun, and fellowship. Get there, get fun, get experienced, be safe. How much more encouragement do you need?

It's confirmed, we have enough participants but if more come on board Fred can haul expert & equally qualified mate(s) to improve the tutor-"student" ratio or make it a bit cheaper for us. 80% of those confirmed are there to improve handling, cornering, braking & "avoiding damage" reasons rather than to gain racing skills but there is a cross-over.

**ajturbo** · 1st February 2005, 21:36

dam ...
just been given 3 months to get out of where i live....
and $ 250....

apart from that i'm there...(not!!

)

**Motoracer** · 2nd February 2005, 10:47

It's definetly worth the buck people! I'd urge anyone to go out there and give it a go. It'll definetly help you LOTS!! When I did it, even some of the "Nanas" within the group became so much faster, so much better and smoother as the day progressed. It helped out my riding so much and it really was an eye opener for me.

I'd be very keen if he organises a similar event for Manfield.

**ajturbo** · 2nd February 2005, 11:04

Originally Posted by Motoracer

It's definetly worth the buck people! I'd urge anyone to go out there and give it a go. It'll definetly help you LOTS!! When I did it, even some of the "Nanas" within the group became so much faster, so much better and smoother as the day progressed. It helped out my riding so much and it really was an eye opener for me.

I'd be very keen if he organises a similar event for Manfield.

yer i would love to do one, one day.... i just hope the guy is still alive when i can aford it!

i haven't heard a bad rep from any of the guys that have done one...!

**k14** · 2nd February 2005, 12:49

Man I am seriously considering doing this. Would definately be worth the investment just not sure if i can get the $$$ in time.

**justsomeguy** · 3rd February 2005, 01:03

Originally Posted by k14

Man I am seriously considering doing this. Would definately be worth the investment just not sure if i can get the $$$ in time.

Same

**loosebruce** · 3rd February 2005, 22:44

I 2nd MR on this, it is a good course, yeah $250 is a little on the steep side for most, but on the plus side you do get a fair amount of track time to boot, Fred's input i found to be really handy and if you are wanting to learn he is the kinda person you can learn a lot from him. When we were there Tony Rees was there also and same again his advice is second to not many.
Another plus is if you are a racer or going to be racing, Freddy really details the track for you showing lines and techniques for the different corners, it was my first time to the Taupo track and i ended up in the mid 45's on my TL with road tyres, i know now with more track time there and tyres along the lines of racetecs saving a couple more seconds would be well not easy but acheivable for sure, without Freddys help that day i'd proberly still need to be visiting Taupo numerous times to be getting even close to 45's. If he decided to do a similar course at manfeild i would go to.

If you are humming and harring about going, i reckon bite the bullet and just go, you wont regret it.

**Roadrash** · 4th February 2005, 07:07

Sounds bloody good but i'm away

**slob** · 4th February 2005, 08:08

Originally Posted by loosebruce

If you are humming and harring about going, i reckon bite the bullet and just go, you wont regret it.

Bite the bullet? I've gone and chewed and swallowed it! In other words, I'll be taking a day off work and getting my slow ass to Taupo on the 14th!

That ought to give me new Gixxer (750 - '96 model) a bit of a warm up! Guess I'd better go tyre shopping soon!

**loosebruce** · 6th February 2005, 17:42

Good on ya slob, let us know how your day goes, go Suzuki

**Rainbow Wizard** · 7th February 2005, 09:41

Hey it's a bloody long story that I'm bound to share with you when (if) I see you and I sincerely apologise for any disruption caused. But yes, it's been a bit of a moveable feast that has had both Fred and me involved since about September and for me, I JUST WANT TO GET IT HAPPENING. I'm sure the final date will stuff it for some of you but maybe better suit others. Please keep in touch because the only thing that might be an obstacle now is the weather (like last time).

Fred confirms he has Tony Rees and Brian Bernard and another top rider who's name I've forgotten coming on deck for the day. AND, it seems there's to be between 20 and 25 of us there, half of whom I understand will be female riders.

Could be another incentive to come, but I sure hope macho behaviour doesn't impose itself on the day (WEDNESDAY 16th Feb).

**trev** · 8th February 2005, 19:29

Hi Rainbow Wizard,

I have just ( last Thursday)purchased a 2001 Kawasaki ZX9R & haven't really ridden for 20 odd years apart from the odd blat on my mates 750 Yammy.

I'm of 2 minds about Taupo :-

1.) it's a bit early - I need to get more familiar with my bike or

2.) I can learn good skills before I pick up bad habits.

I wouldn't mind some feed back on this.

regards

Trev.

**2_SL0** · 10th February 2005, 08:51

Will there be another course in the future as I am interested but unable to make it to that date.
Im certainly interested in regards to learning better/faster/safer lines for the road.

**Rainbow Wizard** · 10th February 2005, 11:23

Originally Posted by Judderbar

Will there be another course in the future as I am interested but unable to make it to that date.

Fred seems to rarely organises these himself these days, in fact the last one he has had a hand in organising he's jumped on the bandwagon of what I've put together, and quite frankly it's been a mammoth exercise that started with Fred assuming I'd booked the track in November and me (not unreasonably) assuming he would be doing that as part of what he needs to provide in order to supply his services. Result: Date change #1

It's taken me lots of emails and ph calls over 3 variations in date (one induced by foul weather) over these last 4 months. I'll be glad to finally receive the training and see the end of the whole fiasco, but you go for it mate.

**loosebruce** · 10th February 2005, 15:19

Originally Posted by trev

Hi Rainbow Wizard,

I have just ( last Thursday)purchased a 2001 Kawasaki ZX9R & haven't really ridden for 20 odd years apart from the odd blat on my mates 750 Yammy.

I'm of 2 minds about Taupo :-

1.) it's a bit early - I need to get more familiar with my bike or

2.) I can learn good skills before I pick up bad habits.

I wouldn't mind some feed back on this.

regards

Trev.

Hey trev, welcome back to biking to start with, i wouldn't worry too much, when i was there, there was a guy who'd brought a brand new 04 R1, he;d done a small bit of riding beofre hand mainly raced go karts, he started off plodding along doing 1,02's, by the end of the day he was timed in the high 48's with is fair moving for most riders out there.
It's be an excellent way to get back into the habit, as the day starts off slow, even has everyone riding the track trying not to use any brakes etc and you build speed and skill as the day goes on, dont be put off, it will be well worth it to go, there is no pressure to go fast at all and only the best advice around to help you along.

Bruce